This is my favorite time of the year - a time for family and togetherness. Please take a moment to read this week's newsletter, as it contains a special opportunity for our Bobcat Virtual Learning family to come together and enjoy each others' company. We hope that you and your family can join us!

I hope you are able to spend this long weekend relaxing and catching up on some sleep! Please remind your student that this is a great time to catch up if they have fallen behind. Don't forget the end-of-semester deadlines that we advertised at the beginning of the year:

• Elementary and middle school classes that do not give an exam and are not tied to high school credit:

• Wednesday, January 19

• High school classes and middle school classes that have an exam and are tied to high school credit:

• Friday, January 14

Because tomorrow is a remote day for the in-person buildings, our office will be closed to visitors. We will be answering phones until 12:00pm if you have any questions and need to get a hold of us.

Have a wonderful holiday break!

Allyson Walroth

Bobcat Virtual Learning Director

awalroth@gbcs.org

810-591-6649

Join your fellow BVL families for a walk through the Trail of Lights, located in Davison's Robert Williams Park (11069 E. Atherton Rd., Davison, MI 48423). The event will take place on Wednesday, December 15, from 5:30-7:30pm. Drop in any time to walk the trail, sit by the bonfire, and enjoy some winter treats!

The cost of admission is $7 per person attending (children 2 and under are free). Please complete this RSVP form by Wednesday, December 8th to let us know if you plan to attend.

We have exciting news! The district's Dining Services would like to begin to provide a free breakfast/lunch program to all full-time Grand Blanc Bobcat Virtual Learning families. Students must be enrolled directly in Grand Blanc Community Schools to take part in this program.

In order for us to gauge interest/need from BVL families, please complete the following survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1bwSzo-19Qc7bEWtxKgOrxI6Z-VvTLobqvzESo29rmGFspQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

According to the USDA mandate, they must follow the school calendar and can only offer free food when school is in session. This means that they will not have food available on days when school is not in session, like over Thanksgiving break or Spring Break. It also means that some weeks may not have five full breakfasts and lunches if it is a shortened week at school.

For families who indicate they would like to take advantage of this service, they are tentatively planning to have a pick up once a week on Thursdays from 12:30-1:00pm at the High School East Campus bus pick-up line. This plan is TENTATIVE and is subject to change based on feedback from this survey.

If you have not already done so, please fill out and sign the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application: https://lunchapp.com/. Don't forget to indicate Bobcat Virtual Learning as you student's building.

Once we receive feedback from families, we will communicate further about the details of the program and the start date.

Please contact us at Grand Blanc Dining Service with any questions: (810) 591-6675 or (810) 591-6928.

• Wednesday, December 1 from 8:00am-2:00pm
• Thursday, December 2 from 2:00pm-8:00pm

Students can be brought to the BVL Lab, located in the High School West Campus (1 Jewett Trail), any time on either of those days. Because this is a school learning environment, students and adults must wear a mask when waiting to take pictures.

If you would like to look at picture options and prices ahead of time, you can access that information here. We will also have copies available at Picture Day. All students grades K-12 are invited to participate.

If you would like to volunteer as a Picture Day Hero and help make Picture Day a success, please contact Mrs. Walroth at 810-591-6649. In return, you will receive a coupon toward the purchase of your child's portrait package.

Grand Blanc Schools Technology Services would like to let you know it is time to replace 5th and 8th grade Chromebooks.

Staff from our department will be at the picture days for Bobcat Virtual on Wednesday, December 1 from 8:00am-2:00pm and on Thursday, December 2 from 2:00pm-8:00pm.

5th and 8th grade students ONLY - Please bring your current Chromebook, case and charger during these times and we will exchange them for the new ones.

Please remember, these Chromebooks are school property and are to remain in the case provided. Also, do not write on them nor put stickers or any other objects on them.

If you have questions, you can call our main office number at 810-591-1699.

Dear Seniors and Parents/Guardians of Seniors,

Please check the link below to make sure we have your senior photo in the yearbook. These are screenshots of the files that will be placed on the pages starting next week - so check the photo and name spelling.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_mYz2VixptuaUHlfNK8JyHarN2ZZsnG6fbekwLm3b0E/edit?usp=sharing

This link is also available on the homepage of GBYearbook.com.

If you find a mistake or if you submitted your photo and it is missing from this slideshow, contact hsyearbk@gbcs.org with corrections by Wednesday, 11/24.

Thank you,

Echo Yearbook Editors

HUGE NEWS! The Hand Up Pantry is back OPEN this week! We are serving all GBCS families beginning now! *We will only have shelf-stable items at this time.

Please fill out the form at ahandup.rocks by 2pm on Tuesday to pick up your items from the West Middle School entryway on Thursday between 9am-4pm! (We are pick up only at this time.)

In the meantime, we still need your household to fill out and sign the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application. This information is critical in determining the amount of money that our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs like Title I A, At-risk (31a), Title II A, E-Rate, etc.

These supplemental programs have the potential to offer supports and services for our students including, but not limited to:

• Instructional supports (staff, supplies & materials, etc.)
• Non-instructional services (counseling, social work, health services, etc.)
• Professional Learning for staff
• Parent and Community engagement supplies and activities
• Technology

• Pandemic-EBT

We are asking that you please complete and submit it as soon as possible to ensure that additional funding for our school is available to meet the needs of our students. All information on the application submitted is confidential. Without your assistance in completing and returning the attached application, our school cannot maximize the use of available State and Federal funds.

If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us at Grand Blanc Dining Service

(810) 591-6675 or (810) 591-6928.

• Main Desk/Technology Help: 810-591-1658
• Enrollment/Grades: Elaina Martinez - 810-591-6391
• Counselor: John Hentes - 810-591-1634 or jhentes@gbcs.org
• Mentors: Elizabeth Ralbusky (last names A-J) - 810-591-6368; Scott Thurlow (last names K-Z) - 810-591-6366
• Coordinator: Kevin Keilitz - 810-591-6375 or kkeilitz@gbcs.org
• Director: Allyson Walroth - 810-591-6649 or awalroth@gbcs.org
• Classroom teachers should all include information on how to contact them on their course. If you have course-related issues, please reach out to your teacher first. They will respond back within 24 hours (during the work week) and can usually clarify things quickly. You can also attend their office hours, which should be listed in their course.